The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-07-07


Not word ofthis did dare breathe 10
my father. AS we were seated on the
veranda, before retiring for the night, he
referred to the departure, saying, every
rebel should do likewise. II they were not
satisfied with the best government on earth
let them try to overthrow it. They would
soon find an end to their boasting. He little
knew, at that moment, that in my sisters
hand lay the little red and white rosette
which she had detached from her parasol,
seeking the first opportunity TO send IT TO
her hot-hcaded lover as the ''charm in the
hour of DANGER
The heavy odor Of the red and white June
roses was waited on the night air, and my
sister plucked two of their buds, the red and
the white and fastened them at her girdle.
The act had no significance in my fathers
eyes, but knew that from that moment
she was as surely pledged to the Southern
Coufederacy as was her valiant lover.
In few days came the news OF the open.
ing conflict on Missouri soil, in the battle of
Boonville. My father was triumphant.
Lyon had routed the State forces. a
deathly pallor swept over my sisters face,
but she would ask no questions. Only those
who experienced the dread suspense which
those early battles eutalled, can know the
agony which she endured during the sue
ceeding days until message camc by the
hand OF little Bob Ii was this:
your token lies over my heart. We lost
camp jackson but we whipped the Home
Guards at Warsaw. Now we have arms and
horses. Forward TO glory Your tr1e knight
will yet win his bride. RICHARD &
In tho enlistment of Southern troops in
Missouri there was little OF the pageantry
OF war to captiyate the senses. There were
no uniforms with gilded buttons and stars
OF gold to dazzle the eve. Nothing TO dis
tinguish the officer from his subordinate,
save bit Of red flannel, or piece OF cotton
cloth fastened to his shoulder or his sleeve.
They had no muster rolls; they slept under
the blue canopy of heaven, fed upon the
growing corn and turned their worn out
horses to feed upon the wild prairie grass,
as in some rare frolic which all too soon be-
came tragic. This encounter with the Home
Guards enc juraged the somewhat disheart
ened volunteers Then came the news that
Ben McCulloch, with his Texan Rangers,
was on his way TO their relief and their ex-
ultation knew no bounds.
The sultry days OF July were full OF fore
boding 10 the Union men. The disaster at
Bull Run had given outspoken bravado to
the seces sionists, knowing that the greater
| part OF the force under Lyon, opposed TO
the State forces was composed OF three
months men, whose term OF service would
soon expire. The Unionis's placed their
| great hope upon the convention which they
| had called for the purpose OF deposing
General Jackson. My father was no half
way Union man. Once in, he was in heart
and SOUL and when Lyons pitiful appeals
to his snperors ia command for reinforce
| mt ~ my fat mn nm al
his intention Of going with squad Of
Union men to offer their lives, IL need be,
to save Missouri
1t was no time for tears as he announced
this decision, as we must prepare what
was necessary for his departure that very
day Again the long shrill whistle OF the
steamboat smote our expectant ears and
my father came in to say farewell.
II am going with you, father,r said Jane.
"You, child What can you dot II is
no place for women said my father.
"But | am going, father, with you, or
without you. Where there is fighting there
must be nurses. am goingn
Her calm dcliberation was so like his
own that he seemed unable to offer any re-
monstrance, At last he said
'sBut We may be compelled to go out oil
the State to pursue our enemyn
"Very well, will 60 also,n was all sht
said.
Whether she would go in the ranks OIL
the pursued, or the pursuer, seemed mat
ter of doubt in my mind, for l was sure
that Richards safety was as much pari
OF her plan as was the welfare of our deaf
, father.
Now, stood alone on the bluff and saw
father and sister borne away, as she and ]
had before watched the rebel volunteers
but there was no glory Of sunlight now A
drzzling rain was falling, and cold chill
like the days OF early autumn. had sue
ceeded the sultry weather, although it was
only the first OF August. The Missouri
river was now unobstructed as a Fedora
highway, aud a short time sufficed to reacl
the forces under Lyon and Sigel, who ha,
Just called their council of war; determined
TO give the rebels battle before their owl
forces we're depleted by the retirement o
the ninety-days men. The rich section o
country upon which the two armies wer
encamped neither was disposed to abandon
A battle was inevitable. The mornin,
which opened upon the bloody battle o
Wilson's Creek found my sister in charg
of department Of hospital supplies, Will
{ my father was commissioned as surgeon.
. Only the God Of battles might forete
! upon that fatsful Friday what should be tn
v outcome, Tie heavy LEAKAGE OF midsumme
8 hid from each the opposing forces, and nc